Michael Carroll News
Democrats pressed to back coronavirus legislation that protects mask-makers from lawsuits
House Democrats have agreed this week to extend some liability protections to manufacturers of masks that can protect health professionals from the coronavirus, Legal Newsline has learned.
Dismissal hearing for Oakland's lawsuit over Raiders' move delayed
SAN FRANCISCO - A federal court hearing on the NFL's attempt to dismiss the city of Oakland’s lawsuit over the relocation of the Raiders has been delayed until April 16, according to one of the attorneys representing the city.
Disabilities lawsuits hit another new high while plaintiffs attorneys find new strategies
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Lawsuits filed by disabled plaintiffs rose 8.8 percent in 2019 as plaintiffs attorneys continued to churn out novel discrimination complaints, according to the law firm Seyfarth Shaw LLP.
Virginia companies' lawsuit accuses CFPB of regulatory overreach
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – Two Virginia companies are suing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau over its investigatory practices, alleging that the federal agency exceeded its authority and engaged in bullying tactics.
Banking industry leaders applaud Senate vote against CFPB arbitration rule
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) – Financial institutions and free-market advocates generally applauded the recent U.S. Senate vote striking down a federal rule that would have eliminated mandatory arbitration clauses in consumer credit contracts.
Arbitration ban would boost credit costs 25 percent, federal analysis finds
A rule banning mandatory arbitration in consumer financial agreements would raise the cost of consumer credit by nearly 3.5 percent annually, a newly released federal analysis says.
Federal Circuit to decide on bid to change where patent cases can be filed
PALO ALTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) – Companies that are targets of patent litigation should keep an eye on a case now before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit that could lead to far-reaching changes about where patent lawsuits can be filed across the nation, a Silicon Valley intellectual property attorney said.
Supreme Court mulling expansion of False Claims Act lawsuits
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) – U.S. Supreme Court justices on April 19 heard arguments in a case that could expand liability for defendants in False Claims Act cases.
Bose cooperating with plaintiffs in class action, attorney says
SAN DIEGO (Legal Newsline) - A class action lawsuit against Bose Corp. for alleged violations of a California law designed to protect consumers’ privacy and personal information may be moving toward a resolution as lawyers for both sides have had cooperative discussions about the case, the plaintiffs' attorney said.
Study: Lawsuits down, but non-practicing entities buying patents at ‘steady rate’
SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) - The amount of patent-infringement litigation took a noticeable dip in the first quarter of this year compared to the same time period in previous years, but whether the numbers reflect a true downturn rather than a temporary hiccup remains to be seen - especially considering prospective plaintiffs are still amassing patents at their normal rate.
Attorney backs Emory law prof's study on no-injury class action settlements
ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) - A recent university study offers objective empirical evidence that no-injury class action lawsuits only benefit the attorneys who bring the litigation, leaving little to trickle down to the plaintiffs while raising costs for consumers.
TGI Friday's victorious at appellate level in class action over drink prices
TRENTON, N.J. (Legal Newsline) - A March New Jersey appeals court decision in a case involving drink prices at TGI Friday's restaurants raised the evidence bar for plaintiffs, a Philadelphia attorney says.
TCPA cases remain stalled despite high court ruling
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - Defendants in class action lawsuits involving the Telephone Consumer Protection Act remain largely in litigation limbo despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision earlier this year limiting the so-called “pick-off” defense.
Federal contractors brace for major court decision on False Claims Act
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - An appeal scheduled for oral arguments this month before the U.S. Supreme Court will decide how broadly the federal False Claims Act applies to government contractors and whether more of them will face the prospect of heavy penalties and greater scrutiny for breaching regulations.
Law prof: CFPB database is government-sponsored Yelp
Though initially heralded as a consumer voice that would restrain deceptive and abusive business practices, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has come under increasing fire from critics, with one George Mason University law professor concluding that the bureau’s complaint database serves no coherent regulatory purpose.
NYC grocery store law seen as part of anti-employer trend
NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) — New York’s mayor and City Council see recently passed legislation such as the Grocery Worker Retention Act as a way to help hard-working employees deal with economic instability, but many employers see the new laws as a reflexive government overreach into private industry.
California attorney general defines businesses' role in cyber security
Attorney General Kamala Harris last month issued a report detailing 20 points businesses should address in order to protect customer data. One legal expert cautioned that failure to comply with the suggestions in the points may trigger an enforcement action following a data breach.
Employers advised to spell out social media policies to workers
Employment law experts say employees need to think about how their employers might react to their social media posts, while employers should have clear social media policies on the books.
CVS defends its supplements in wake of class action suit; Attorney says industry facing increased scrutiny
WOONSOCKET, R.I. (Legal Newsline) - CVS continues to stand behind both its store brands and its efforts to comply with health and safety regulations in the wake of a class action lawsuit filed over a supplement the pharmacy chain manufactures and sells as a memory-enhancer.
Regulators expanding enforcement reach in data security cases
WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A recent Federal Trade Commission settlement with a company that allegedly made deceptive claims about the encryption in its software demonstrates how regulatory agencies are going after a wider pool of defendants in data security cases, a San Francisco attorney says.